“Exactly. I’m having too incredible a time to have her shit all over it and make me feel guilty for happily living my life beyond her sadistic control.”
“There is something else.”
She sat, again, cradling her forehead in her hand. “Go ahead.”
“There’s an anonymous poster ranting on the gallery’s FacePage, and it clearly isn’t from a fan.”
“Oh, God. The narcissistic smear campaign. Ugh. That is totally something she would do.”
“I deleted it all and blocked the account. Like I said, unmitigated bullshit is at foot here. To be on the safe side, I’ll have the alarm codes and locks changed. You’d best come home, darling.”
Fuming mad, Darcy paced the sitting room, trying not to raise his voice, instead using the steeliest threats he could issue in light of the tenuous situation of secrecy where Lizzy was concerned. Never had he planned that his help to Lizzy would go sideways. Wyn had always been an upstanding man with a generous nature when it came to assisting emerging artists and giving young art entrepreneurs a leg up. This sudden reversal was beyond the pale, and he considered it an insult to his mother’s memory and all the DarcysandFitzwilliams whohad promotedGleason’sfledgling career in the shadow of his mother’s superiority in the medium. Yet, the businessman in him could see it through the artist’s perspective. He couldn’t blame the man for distancing himself from drama and unethical behavior, and that was the culprit’s intent.
He spelled, “D. A. R. C. Y.”
“As in Pemberley Capital, Darcy?” The assistant asked.
“Yes. Wyn knows me and knows that I don’t take these things lightly. You can inform him that his long-term board appointment to my mother’s prestigious foundation is now in jeopardy. I expect a return call from himpersonallywith the names of the so-called collectors who have maligned my client and art broker. I also expect an immediate retraction and apology for his ill-informed decision. At the very least, he should have discussed the allegation with Ms. Bennet or me. He entered into a binding contract with La Tempera and Ms. Bennet as a personal favor to me and my late mother. If not resolved, I will look upon his contravention as a betrayal of a twenty-year friendship and use every legal tool available to seek significant financial compensation on behalf of my client.”
“I understand, Mr. Darcy, and I’ll make sure Mr. Gleason returns your call. I’m so sorry, and I promise you, we’ll work this out for all parties involved. I sincerely regret that I advised him on this without forethought,” the personal assistant said.
He grunted. “Fine. I don’t care that it’s the weekend or the time difference. I’ll be expecting his response.” Hanging up, he made one more call.
“Hey, it’s me.”
“Where are you?” Gigi asked.
“Paris.”
“Ah, that explains a lot.”
“What do you mean?”
“Have I got tea for you.”
“I’m sorry, Gigi, but save it for when I get home.”
“No way—this is too good to wait. Rick broughtyourfiancée to Aunt Catherine’s birthday party last night. La! My dream has come true!”
He sat. “Seriously?”
“Bruh, you didn’t know?”
“Nope.”
“I mean, they played it off, all friendsy-like for Aunt C and her legal groupies, but Beanz can’t fool me—or Aunt C who freaked out and dropped the friggin’ gavel on her behind her back. The whole thing is so sus! I saw the way she looked at Rick. She’s playin’ you.”
“She’s not playing me.”
“She is. I told ya it’s all about the money. It always is. Even Aunt C said your whole engagement is a snow job. And let me tell you, oh man, Rick got an earful about being a homewrecker before you even have a home to wreck. She. Is. Pissed.”
“Wow. Caroline and Rick? How did I not see that coming?”
“Um ... duh. You have mad-cowgirl brain disease.”
“True. Well, whatever. I’ll deal with it when I get back. I need a huge favor today if you can spare the time.”
“Sure!”
